Have We Lost Hope for the Great Society?

Thursday 8 September 2005

This year's University of Newcastle Human Rights and Social Justice Lecture will be presented by Rev Nic Frances MBE on Thursday 15 September 2005 at 1pm, Griffith Duncan Theatre, Callaghan campus.

Former Australian Executive Director of the Brotherhood of St Laurence (1999–2003), Nic Frances has sought new ways of assisting the marginalised and unemployed.

He believes people need opportunity to break long-term unemployment and poverty, not charity.

His work focuses on creating real and meaningful work for people and questions the system of welfare and charity as keeping people poor rather than offering them opportunities, he calls this social entrepreneurship.

He says, "We all have to be able to play a valuable role which is more than just a job and society must value that role."

Born in the United Kingdom, Nic Frances came from a wealthy family and first worked in the corporate world before taking up the challenge to create work opportunities for people caught in long-term unemployment.

He established two social businesses: the Furniture Resource Centre and CREATE, which were recognised as leading the social enterprise agenda. The British Government awarded him an MBE for his work.

Under his leadership, the Brotherhood of St Laurence worked for an Australia free from poverty by creating innovative 'whole of society' partnerships across traditional boundaries. These included initiatives in job creation for long-term unemployed people, microcredit for people on low incomes, a cross-sector strategy on affordable housing, and support for Indigenous programmes.

Nic was ordained an Anglican priest in 1996 and is currently Associate Priest at St Stephen's Richmond (Vic).

He is also the founding director of 'easybeinggreen' - a for profit, social and environmental organisation with a vision to have 70% of Australian households using a minimum of 30% less energy and water by 2014.

For information about the Lecture and Interviews with Rev Nic Frances contact Marie Dunn on (02) 4921 6370.